Letters To The Editor

October 21, 1989

VOTERS ASSESS WILDER, COLEMAN

PRO COLEMAN

As the parents of a 13-year-old daughter, born three months premature in 1976, we have considered the abortion issue very carefully.

It takes character and integrity for a political candidate to take a pro-life position in today's world. The unborn have no votes and the pro-abortion supporters have millions of dollars to support their candidates.

Marshall Coleman has stated that unless an abortion is performed because of rape, incest or threat to the mother's life, it should not be legal.

It may not be the most popular position with the "me generation," but it is the right one.

William T. and

Cynthia B. Cross Jr.

Portsmouth

STRINGS ATTACHED

Northern Virginia is a powerhouse, a dynamic area with more assets along Route 7 alone than the entire Peninsula. The growth there is explosive and the faces behind this growth have millions of dollars to bet on a governor's race. They have real growth problems that require real money.

Do you really think that Marshall Coleman knows where Hampton/Newport News is on a map? Don't bet on it.

Doug Wilder is from Virginia, not from Northern Virginia and I would rather place my hard-earned tax dollars into projects in Virginia, preferably the Richmond to Tidewater corridor. A win for the Republicans will shift the balance of power to Northern Virginia.

Supporting Wilder, with a combination knockout provided by the other already strong Democrats in our area, will thwart this assault. Remember, we don't make enough money to be Republicans and those multi-million dollars being bet on the governor's race will have some strings attached. Those strings will not have ties to the Peninsula.

Trip Ferguson

Newport News

CONCERNED PARENT

Being a concerned citizen, I was interested to find out a few facts about gubernatorial candidate Doug Wilder's recent political career.

Wilder has played key roles in bringing about new laws that will keep assault weapons out of the hands of criminals. After recent incidents of adults and especially small school children being murdered by assault weapons, I was elated to hear of Wilder's legislation in this area, as was, I'm sure, any concerned parent in Virginia.

Jonathan Cawley

Hampton

FOR WILDER

As a senior citizen I'm supporting Doug Wilder because he has led the fight to give senior citizens and retirees fair tax breaks.

People need to know that for nearly 20 years this man has fought to take the sales tax off food and non-prescription medicine. As governor perhaps he will win the battle.

Ernest Williams

Hampton

POLICE SUPPORT

Of all the people who vote for Marshall Coleman, his most ardent supporters are likely to be Virginia's police officers. This is because under a Doug Wilder administration, the lives of our police will be in great danger. Wilder's liberal voting record in the state Senate is indicative of his total disregard for the lives of the brave individuals who enforce the law.

Among all the members of the state Senate, Wilder was the only one to vote against the death penalty for criminals who murder police officers. If the police are not safe from the vicious killers who plague our society, then how can the average citizen expect to be protected?

A Virginia governed by Wilder would be a state of free criminals, dead cops and scared citizens.

Rob Vreeland

Williamsburg

IN THE FOREFRONT

The Democratic Party has endorsed Lt. Gov. Douglas Wilder to be the next governor. They know he is the most experienced and best qualified person running for the governor's office.

All Virginians know that Wilder has been in the forefront for more than 20 years with his heart, hands and head working for all Virginians.

Wilder had to be two or three times better qualified than most to rise to this position. His climb up the political ladder has not been easy. Many obstacles, stumbling blocks, disappointments and high hurdles to jump have been present. He has displayed tenacity, perserverance, endurance, coping skills, love of country and faith in God, to provide the best for all citizens with respect and fairness for all.

Virginia needs a governor who has experienced adversities, serious problems to solve and capable of making tough decisions. Wilder is that person.

Vera E. Perry-Small

Hampton

NOT COLEMAN

I am another of the Republicans who voted for Bush thinking about my pocketbook - and his 1980 views - rather than American values and human rights - the rights of women to choose, rather than have their legislators, doctors, or the perpetrators of their unwanted pregnancies to choose for them. I am voting for Douglas Wilder, Don Byer and Mary Sue Terry, each of whom have commendable records regardless of what the "Tricky Dicks" - Nixon-era politicians, including Marshall Coleman - say about them. It was bad enough to have men like James Watts, Ed Meese and the Iran-Contra-gate conspirators in Washington during the past several years. We don't need Coleman in the governor's palace in Richmond.

Kathleen Bueker

Deltaville

APPLAUD WILDER

After reading the article, "Environment, female issues persist," I would like to applaud Douglas Wilder's support for environmental issues. I am alarmed at Coleman's attitude towards these environmental issues because it indicates his real sincerity and concerns about the environment. If Coleman doesn't believe recycling 25 percent of Virginia's trash by 1992 is a realistic goal then I think this just shows how much effort he is willing to put forth in the environment.

I really believe, as a Hamptonian, that the environment is a very important issue of Hampton Roads. I find it hard to believe that any voter of this area could possibly vote for Coleman with his pessimistic attitude toward the environment. I strongly support Wilder, as well as the Virginia Clean Water Action, for his support behind the environment.